Photographic camera



April 11,1939.

K. PRITSCHOW PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA Filed Sept. 30, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet l fnven Z01: fM WW .liiorney. v

April 11, 1939. K. PRlTscHow PHOTOGRAPHIO CAMERA Filed Sept. 30, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIrIIIIl'IIlI/I! 1 IIIIIIIIIJIllmllfi/IIIIIIIIIIIIII/I/ v I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I, I, I, I I7 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I n I April 11, 1939. K. PRITSCHOW PHOTOGRAFHIC CAMERA Fil ed Sept. 30, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 [12 we n 502* :IIIIIIII 2/1"l April 1939- K. PRIT'SCHOW 2,153,813

YPHOTOGRAPHIG CAMERA Filed Sept. 30, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 lnvenior; WWW

Patented Apr. 11, 1939 UNITED STATES PHOTOGBAPHIC CAMERA Karl Pritschow, Brunswick, Germany, assignor. to

Voigtlander &

Sohn Aktiengesellschaft,

Brunswick, Germany, a joint-stock company of Germany Application September 30, 1936, Serial No. 103,334

\ In Germany March 7, 1935 6 Claims; (01.. 95-44 This invention relates to improvements in photographic cameras, and more particularly in cameras of the type in which a bright view finder is provided above the camera lens, which view finder comprises an object lens, a mirror adapted to direct the rays passing through said lens upwardly, and a field lens, the pencil of rays emanating from the object to bephotographed passing through the finder without obstruction and dispersion by a focusing screen. As is known in the art, finders of this type produce a bright and correct image, as compared to finders in which the image of the object to be photographed is produced on a focusing screen. Such bright view finders are particularly useful when the image inspected therethrough has the same or substantially the same size as the image produced on the focusing screen. However, by means of a finder of this type focusing of the camera is not possible, and therefore focusing is effected by axially shift-- ing the exposure lens, after first'determining the" distance of the object either by means of a range finder or by estimation. Thus for correctly setting the camera two different operations are needed.

One of the objects of the improvements is to Provide a camera of the class indicated in which the setting of the camera by means of the view finder and focusing can be made in a more simple and speedy way, and with this object in view my invention consists in combining, with the camera and its view finder, a range finder which is arranged in the camera'so that the view finder and the range finder are inspected from the same side of the camera and substantially in the same direction, so that it is necessary only slightly to displace the eye raatively to thefinders for first determining the distance of the object and focusing the camera lens, and thereai'ter.ascertaining the section of the scene appearing on the sensitized surface by means of the view finder.

Another object of the improvements is to provide a camera of the class indicated in which the section of the image inspected through the range 45 finder is exactly the same as that inspected through the view finder and that projected on the sensitized surface. Therefore, after the charester of the image has been ascertained by means of the view finder, and the camera lens has been brought to focus by means of the range finder, the

exposure may be directly made, without first returning the eye into the position'for looking through the view finder. This is particularly important, because after focusing the exposure may be made directly with the camera'located at the height of the eye, as distinguished from 'elxpo sures which are made by means of the view-finder and its field lens which require the'c'amera to] be held comparatively low. 7

Other objects of the improvements williappearj f from the following description.

For the purpose of explaining the invention'jj several examples embodying the same havebeen shown in the accompanying drawings in which 10 the same reference characters have been used in' all the views to indicate corresponding parts. In said drawings, I I

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation showing the camera.

Fig. 2 is a plan view partly in section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is an elevation showing the connection between the range finder and the camera lens,

Fig. 4 is a side view of Fig. 3 partly in section,

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevationof the camera similar to the one illustrated in Fig. 1 and showing a modification of the range finder and the] Fig. 8 is a top plan view partly in section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7,

other modifications of the range finder,

Fig. 11 is an elevation partly in section showing another modification of the range finder,

Fig. 12 is a top plan view partly in section taken on the line l2 l2 of Fig. 11, g

Fig. 13 is a sectional elevation partly in section showing another modification of the rangefinder, Fig. 14 is a top plan view partly in section taken on the line I4-Il of Fig. 13, and

Fig. 15 is a sectional plan view showing another modification of the range finder.

In the example shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the camera comprises a casing I having a front wall 3 Figs. 9 and 10 are sectional elevations showing 2 and atop wall 3, and divided by a partition I intoan exposure chamber 5 and a finder chamber 6. In the front wall 2 there is a camera lens 1 which is adapted to be shifted in axial direction.

Asshown, the lens is mounted in a tube 8 which is slidable in a tubular member 9 fixed to the front wall 2.

The view finder comprises a positive object lens l0 fixed to the front wall 2, an inclined mirror ll adapted to reflect upwardly the rays passing through the lens i2, and a horizontal field lens I2 mounted in the top wall 2. As shown, the said field lens i2 is square in plan view.

On the top wall 25. range flnder is mounted, which comprises an elongate casing l4 flxed to the top wall 3 and formed at its ends with forwardly directed branches Ii. In the said branches negative lenses l2 are mounted, and at the rear of the said lenses mirrors l1 and I2 mounted at angles of 45 relatively to the optical axes of the lenses IS, the said mirrors l1, l2 being adapted to reflect the rays passing through the lenses |6 inwardly and towards each other.

Between the mirrors l1 and I2 there are mirrors l9 and 22, which are disposed one above the other and which cross each other, the mirror |2 beingin position for being impinged upon by the upper half of the pencil of rays reflected by the mirror l1, and the mirror 22 being in position for reflecting the lower section of the pencil of rays reflected by the mirror I2. By means of the mirrors i9 and the complementary pencils of rays are reflected rearwardly to a system of mirrors adapted to throw the rays upwardly. As shown, the said system of mirrors comprises mirrors 2| and 22 inclined rearwardly and downwardly, the mirror 2| being in position for being impinged upon by the pencil of rays reflected by the mirrors I9, 22 and for reflecting the same downwardly and forwardly to the mirror 22, and the mirror 22 being adapted to reflectthe rays upwardly. As shown, the mirrors 2| and 22 are provided by a pentagonal prism comprising the said reflecting surfaces 2| and 22 and faces 22 disposed relatively to each other at right angles. In the path of the rays reflected by the mirror 22 a. positive lens 24 is mounted in an opening of the top wall of the tubular casing i4. The lenses l2, l2 and 24 provide two reverse Galileo telescopes which have the lens 24 in common, and which have a large field of sight and are adapted to produce a small image of the object to be photographed which is correct in elevation and lateral direction.

The crossing edges of the mirrors l2 and 22 appear in the range finder as a section line which separates the complementary sectional images of the object.

The mirror is mounted on a vertical axis 22, and it is adapted to be turned about the said axis, in accordance with the distance of the'object to be photographed, so that the complementary pencils are correctly combined in the range finder, as is known in the art. The shaft 22 of the mirror I1 is connected with the focusing device of the lens I, so that the said lens is focused by the setting of the mirror H, or vice versa. Any suitable mechanism may be provided for this purpose. As is shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, at opposite sides of the tubular member 2 arms 22 are located within the camera casing the hub 22 of which is rockingly mounted on a shaft 22 secured to the side wall of the casing. Pins 2| flxed to the tube 2 are passed through slots 22 and 22 made respectively in the tubular member 2 and the arm 22. One of the arms 22 carries a toothed segment 24 which is in mesh with a pinion 25 secured to an arbor 26 mounted in one of the side walls of the camera casing. To the arbor 26 a cam 21 is secured which is engaged by an arm 22 mounted on a pivot bolt 22. An upwardly directed flnger 42 of the arm 22 engages an arm 4| connected with the mirror H. To the shaft 22 a milled disk 42 is secured.

The camera is used as follows:

For taking a photograph the photographer at first directs the view flnder III, II, |2 towards the object to be photographed and he ascertains the section of the object which he desires to project on the sensitized film. After the position of the camera has thus been ascertained, the photographer looks through the range flnder while lifting the camera to the proper position relatively to the eye, and he turns the mirror I! by means of the milled disk 42 until the two sections oi the image appearing in the range finder are in register. By means of the milled disk 42 the cam disk 21 is turned which acts through the lever 22 on the mirror I1. By the same operation of the milled disk the camera lens is shifted axially into the proper position by means of the pinion 25, the toothed segment 24 and the lever 22.

When the view finder and thereafter the range finder are used, only slight displacement of the eye of the photographer is necessary, because both finders are inspected from the same side. The construction of both finders is such that the same section of the object which appears in the view finder appears in the range finder, and therefore the photograph may be directly taken with the camera located near the eye. Thus the image produced on the sensitized surface appears quite natural, because it is taken from a point near the eye of the photographer.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown a modification in which a range finder of different construction is provided. As shown the said range finder consists exclusively of mirrors, 'the lenses being omitted. Thus the rays of the pencils passing through the range finder are parallel to one another. The base line of the range finder is likewise arranged at the rear of the square field lens l2, and at the ends of the said base line angularly disposed mirrors 41 and 42 are provided, the said mirrors being parallel to each other. The mirror 41 is a completely reflecting mirror, while the mirror 42 is partly permeable to light as is known in the art. At the rear of the mirror 42 a reflecting system is provided for directing the rays upwardly, the said reflecting system comprising reflecting surfaces 2| and 22 formed on the sides of a pentagonal prism, the construction of the said prism being the same as that described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2. In the front wall, or at a suitable part between the mirrors 41 and 42 and the said front wall, windows 45 are provided the dimensions of which are such that the section of the object to be photographed viewed through the range flnder is substantially the same as that viewedthrough the view finder and projected on the sensitized surface when the eye of the attendant is disposed relatively to the fleld lens l2 and the range finder so that it is as near thereto as possible and the sight is still sharp. At the rear of the mirror 42 and above the prism 2|, 22 a window 42 is made in the top wall 2 of the casing By constructing the range finder with the window 42 located at one side of the camera the attendant is enabled to look through the range finder with one eye and through the view finder with the other eye, so that the necessary displacement of the eyes from the range finder to the view finder or vice verse is small.

The mirror 41 is operatively connected with the focusing mechanism .of the camera lens by mechanism similar to the one described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4.

The image of the object viewed directly I a. pentagonal prism having two reflectingsurthrough the semi-transparent mirror 48 is superposed upon the image reflected by the mirrors 4! and 48, and in order to distinguish the two images for convenience in setting the mirror 41 a colored screen may be provided in the path of the rays passing from the mirror 41 to the mirror 48, as is indicated at 48.

In Figs. 7 and 8 I have shown another modiflcation, in which the range finder is located in front of the field lens I2 of the view finder, and in which the ocular lens of the range finder is located as high as is possible, in view of the dimensions of the camera. the said ocular lens .to,.Figs.1 to 6,. andthe range finder isconnected withethe camera lens, by mechanism similar to .ftheoneshown'in Figs..,3 and 4.. --The.range.finder comprises two mirrors U and v 88:: located near the front wall of the camera casing .l,'-; apair of crossing mirrors "and 88,

faces 8| and 62-,a-negativelens located above the said prism, and a positive lens "the mounting 58 of which is hinged to the hinged front wall ,53, ofthe viewing or: focusing hood of the view and the focusing device is similar-to the one finder. c.-The-mirror 51 is adapted to be turned about a. vertical axis 85.

The connection between the said mirror 51 shown in Figs. and 6. The shaft 85 is connected with an arm 88 which is acted upon by the upwardly directed arm of a lever 18 rockingly mounted at I8. The downwardly directed arm of the said leveris engaged by a cam TI secured to an arbor 18. On the said arbor a milled disk '81 is mounted. Further, a pinion I8 is secured to the arbor 18, and the said pinion is in engage- -ment with a toothed sector I4 formed on one of two arms 68 rockingly mounted at 18. To the tube 8 pins H are secured which pass through slots 12 and 18 made respectively in the tube" 8 and the tubular member 8. I

'The camera is used in the same way as;

However, the size-ofthel'image'viewed through .the' range 'finder'is" comparatively small, which 'is not objectionable' ffor 'the reason that falarge size image is viewed rough the view finder-for ascertaining the sectiopof the scene to be hoto graphed. Thepos'itionof the eye inspectingjthef finders is substantially the same, and only slight di iacement of the eye is, needed when the if ers are used.

' n Fig. 9 I have shown a'd n fication which is similar to the constructions own in Figs. 7 and 8, in which, however, the pentagonal prism 8|, 82' is .located above the field lens ii, the base line of the range finder being accordingly located higher than the field lens II.

cameras described with reference to Figs. ltoi6.

spected by means of a positive ocular lens 84. The other parts of the *range finder are similar in construction to those shown in Figs." 1 and 2, and the same reference characters have been used to indicate corresponding parts. The range finder is preferably mounted at the front side of the camera casing and in front of the field lens I2. The ocular lens 84 is foldably mounted on the hinged cover plate 83 of the finder. Preferably its hinge is carried by a slide 8i mounted on guide ways 85 provided on the cover plate 83, the lens being preferably held in set position by means of a spring 82. Thus the lens 84 maybe shifted upwardly and downwardly for permitting sharp inspection of k the real image produced by the lenses. 86. By means of the range finder shown in Figs. 11 and 12 a comparatively small imageof the object is produced in which also the crossing -,line ..of;, the crossing mirrors i8, 28 is sharp. Fi-irther, the proper position of the eye is at. a; comparatively large distance above the ocular lensf84;

Inthefforeg'oingreference has been made to camerasgin' which the range finders are inspected .jrojm above: [In Figs. 13 to 15 I .have shown modificationsunwhich the rangefinders are inspected from the rear of the camera. The

section of the scene viewed through the range finder is the same as that viewed iljhrough the view finder, and therefore the section of the scene to be photographed may be selected by means of. the view finder, and the exposure may be made while the photographer looks through the range finder and while the camera is located at the height of the eye, thus producing a natural photograph of the scene.

In Figs. 13 and 14 the construction of the camera is the same as that described with reference to Figs. 1 to 12, and the same letters of .reference have been used to indicate corresponding parts. ing hood 88 an elongate casing 88 is mounted on the top wall 3 of the camera casing and the said casing is provided at its front side with windows 88.- At the rear of the said windows there are angularly disposed mirrors 8| and 82 which are parallel to each other and which have their refleeting surfaces respectively at their front and rear sides, the mirror 8| completely reflecting th'e grays impinging thereon, and the mirror 82 beingpartly transparentr Thus the rays coming from'jthe object are reflected by the mirror 8| At the rear of the viewing or focusand thrown on the reflecting rearflface ofjthe mirror 82, from which theyiare further reflected *rea'rwardly and through a window 83. The penwith forwardly directed branches 96 located at either side of the viewing or focusing hood and extending to the front side of the camera casing. The optical system of the range finder comprises negative lenses'84 located at the front ends of the branches 86, angular mir'rors or reflecting roof edge prisms 81, 88, a pair of pentagonal prisms 88 having their reflecting surfaces disposed vertically, and a positive ocular lens I88.

Between the negative lenses 94 and the mirrors 91 and 98 positive reversing lenses HJI are located. The mirror 91 is adapted to be turned about a vertical axis I02, and it is connected with the camera lens by mechanism similar to the one shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

QBy means of the optical system of the range finder a real image of the scene is produced, and the pencils of rays passing through the lenses 94 are divided by the superposed pentagonal prisms 99, 99 into upper and lower sections representing complementary parts of the scene, and the said sections are correctly combined by setting the mirror 91 in accordance with the distance of the object.

In the constructions shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6, '7, 8, ll, 12, 13, 14, and 15 the paths of the pencils of rays are located laterally of the field lens [2 or the viewing or focusing hood. Thus, the room left by the comparatively large view finder and its hood is made use of for disposing the range finder. The aggregate transverse extent of the field lens of the view finder and of the mirrors.

of the range finder is substantially equal to the entire space interval between the planes of the side walls of the casing.

I claima;

l. A camera comprising a casing having an exposureopening, a camera lens, a view finder located above said camera lens and comprising an inclined mirror adapted to throw upwardly the rays emanating from the object to be photographed, and a range finder having its base line located in front of the upwardly directed portion of said view finder and comprising a pair of mirrors located respectively at the ends of said base line in positions for being impinged upon by the rays emanating from the object to be photographed and for directing the said rays towards each other, mirrors in the paths of said reflected rays and adapted to combine rays coming from complementary portions of the object to be photographed into a pencil corresponding to the said object and to direct the same upwardly, and means for setting the elements of said range finder in accordance with the distance of the object to' be photographed into positions for combining the complementary pencils-of rays passing through said range finder into a pencil correctly representing the object to be photographed, in which camera the view finderends in a viewing hood, and in which the range finder comprises a positive object lens and a positive ocular lens mounted on the front wall of said viewing hood, said positiveiocular lens being hinged to the said wall.

2. Acamera comprising a'casing having an exposure opening, camera lens, a view finder located above said camera lens and comprising an object lens, an inclined mirror adapted to throw the rays emanating from the object to be photographed upwardly, and a field lens, and a range finder having its base line located in front of the upwardly directed portion of said view finder and comprising a pair of positive lenses and mirrors located at the ends of said base line in positions for being impinged upon by the rays emanating from the object to be photographed and for directing the rays towards each other, mirrors in the path of said reflected rays adapted to reflect rays coming from complementary portions of the object to be photographed rearwardly and to combine the same into a. pencil corresponding to the object to be photographed, a mirror adapted to reflect the said combined pencil of rays upwardly, and a positive lens in the path of the said reflected combined pencil of rays, and means for setting the elements of the said range finder in accordance with the distance of the object to be photographed into positions for combining the complementary pencils of rays passing through said range finder into a pencil correctly representing the object to be photographed.

3. A camera as claimed in claim 2, in which the focal length of the said positive lenses located at the ends of the base line is such that the image of the object to be photographed produced by the said lenses is located between the said combining mirrors and the upwardly reflecting mirror.

4. A camera as claimed in claim 2, in which the upwardly reflecting mirror is located between the said combining mirrors and the said positive lens located in the path of the reflected combined pencil of rays.

5. In a photographic camera the combination of a box, a camera lens set in the front wall of the box, a view finder including an object lens set in the front wall of the box, a reflector within the box, and a field lens set horizontally in the top wall of the box and of less transverse extent than the width of the box, through which the view is to be seen from above, and a range finder including a casing mounted transversely at the ,top and within the confines of the box and in mirrors arranged within and at opposite ends of the said casing and means for combining in a single field of view the rays reflected by the two said mirrors.

. KARL PRI'I'SCHOW. 

